Composting and Incinerating Toilets

                                                                     Composting Toilets in Delta County: What You Need to Know

If you are considering a composting toilet for your home in Delta County, it is important to understand that they are viewed as waste reduction tools, not a replacement for a standard septic system.

Under Regulation 43, composting toilets are legal to use, but they must operate alongside a traditional wastewater setup. 

Even if you utilize a composting, or incinerating toilet, your OWTS will not be reduced in size. 

                                                                                                  The Golden Rule

You can use a composting toilet, but you MUST still have a permitted septic system (OWTS). Even if you aren't flushing "blackwater" (toilet waste), you still generate "graywater" from sinks, showers, and laundry. In Delta County, this graywater must be treated by a full-sized, permitted septic system.

                                                                                     Important Details for Homeowners

No "Bucket" Systems: To meet legal standards for a permanent dwelling, you must purchase a manufactured unit that meets NSF Standard 41.

Engineering is Required: You cannot DIY the installation of your wastewater system. A licensed engineer must design your plans, specify the composting toilet model, and show how the remaining graywater will be handled.

Graywater Restrictions: Delta County does not allow graywater to be used for irrigation or "mulch basins." All water leaving the house—except for what goes into your composting unit—must be piped directly into your septic tank. There is no direct discharge allowed onto the ground.